The staple drugstore skin-care brand has a lengthy library of standout products, but these are the ones that reign supreme.
Let’s not beat around the bush. When it comes to skin care, it’s easy to judge a book by its cover. A product with standout packaging is way more likely to get “ooh’d” and “aah’d” over than a standard pump bottle.
That being said, every so often we come across a line where we’re willing to accept its more minimal packaging in exchange for simple formulas. One such brand that’s dominated the skin-care industry despite having a more, dare we say, clinical look to it, is CeraVe.
There’s a reason why CeraVe gets recommended by dermatologists and experts in the biz time and time again — it’s because the brand actually works alongside dermatologists to develop products.
And what better way to create intentionally-formulated serums, moisturizers, and cleansers than by going straight to the source who knows the ins and outs of skin?
Don’t get us wrong — we love a good viral skin-care product as much as the next #TikTokSkincare lover. But sometimes we like our skin care how we like our wardrobe: back to the basics.
And more often than not, the experts agree with this phenomenon, citing CeraVe as the way to achieve that, particularly if you have finicky skin. (In fact, we’ve seen plenty of them praise the brand on TikTok — confirming you don’t always need the latest and greatest on the market.)
“CeraVe is a commonly recommended brand in my practice, especially for acne patients and patients with eczema,” says Juliya Fisher, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan, New York.
“The products are formulated with three essential ceramides to help with barrier repair, which tends to be compromised in eczema patients.” With CeraVe, you don’t have to worry about potentially irritating your skin, as all of the products are non-comedogenic and made without fragrance, parabens, or sulfates.
Plus, several of the products in the line have been accepted by the National Eczema Association, notes Kiran Mian, a CeraVe partner and board-certified dermatologist based in New York City — yet another reason why sensitive skin types adore this drugstore brand.
TL;DR: from the Hydrating Facial Cleanser to the Resurfacing Retinol Serum, CeraVe offers everything your skin needs and nothing it doesn’t — and it manages to do so at an attainable price point.
While you certainly won’t get Tatcha-like packaging or luxurious-feeling formulas (Charlotte Tilbury, anyone?), what you will get are ultra-gentle products that work well for all skin types and can be used either as part of your everyday routine or after an intensive skin-care treatment like microneedling.
Along with the no-fuss packaging, the product names are also straightforward and easy to remember — which can be especially helpful if you’re just dipping your toes into the confusing world of skin care.
Keep reading to find the best products from CeraVe that you’re going to want to add to your skin-care stash, stat.
Hydrating Facial Cleanser
That squeaky-clean feeling you get after cleansing your face? Yeah, that doesn’t mean your skin is clean — it means it’s dried out.
You won’t feel parched with the Hydrating Facial Cleanser, a two-time Allure Best of Beauty winner revered mainly for its use of hyaluronic acid in addition to the tri-ceramide complex the brand is known for.
Combined, these ingredients work together to get rid of pore-clogging dirt and debris on your skin and bring your moisture barrier back to a hydrated state.
While this fragrance-free face wash is formulated with normal to dry skin in mind, because of how gentle it is, it also plays well with rosacea-prone skin, Joyce Davis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, previously told Allure.
Another thing that adds to its cool factor: it can be used anywhere you’re dry — including your body and hands.
Moisturizing Cream
Contrary to what you may think, there is a world in which dry skin doesn’t always have to feel so parched. That’s where the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream comes in.
The Allure 2022 Readers’ Choice Award winner nixes any traces of dryness or flakiness, instead offering up a hydrated complexion thanks to a blend of hyaluronic acid and encapsulated ceramides.
This rich moisturizer is thick, non-greasy, and blends in like a dream. Plus, it uses a patented system that releases its moisturizing ingredients for up to 24 hours after you wash it off, meaning you’ll reap the skin-hydrating benefits well after applying.
Healing Ointment
A staple in dermatologists’ skin-care routines, the Healing Ointment has created quite the buzz for its ability to tackle dry patches all around, whether it be on your hands, lips, elbows, or knees.
A dab is all you need to feel relief that’s both instant and long-term — that’s all due to the formula’s thick, occlusive consistency that envelopes your skin with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and petrolatum.
As both Massachusetts-based board-certified dermatologist Papri Sarkar, MD, and Washington, D.C-based board-certified dermatologist Pooja Sodha, MD, previously told Allure, this ointment can also be used on thinner areas of skin such as the lower eyelids and under eyes to combat dryness.
Ultralight Moisturizer with SPF 30
If you’ve got oily skin, CeraVe’s Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 is the real MVP if you’re looking to protect your skin from UV rays without the greasy feeling many formulas leave behind.
A few things that make it stand out: it’s lightweight, boasts a matte finish, and lays perfectly underneath makeup without pilling or separating. If you’re prone to grease, this is the SPF that’ll beat the heat.
Renewing SA Cleanser
Whether you’re dealing with a fresh blemish or one that’s stuck around longer than you’d like, it’s important to use a non-irritating formula that won’t add to the chaos — as is the case with the Renewing SA Cleanser.
This gel-to-foam cleanser is laced with salicylic acid to give pores a deep clean and smooth out bumpy skin, but it’s also balanced out with vitamin D to ensure skin stays hydrated, and not stripped.
While most cleansers that make use of the BHA can dry out the skin, this one is made without rough grains or beads, which can cause micro-tears on your skin.
And, it contains ceramides and niacinamide to restore the skin barrier, as Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City previously told Allure.
Psoriasis Moisturizing Cream
If your skin is in a constant war with red, scaly plaques, you may be dealing with psoriasis, “a skin condition in which skin cells build up on top of each other,” says Dr. Mian, who adds that flare-ups are often triggered by dry skin.
Thankfully, this soothing cream is formulated with “ceramides to repair the skin, urea to soften rough spots, and salicylic acid to help remove excess scale from the skin,”
Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City previously told Allure.
Apply it a couple of times a day to get some relief, and remember to load up on SPF if you’ll be wearing it during the day to combat any skin sensitivity that may arise due to the exfoliating acids.
Eye Repair Cream
The best drugstore eye cream doesn’t exi— actually, it does. “The skin around the eyelids is the thinnest skin on the body and is easily affected by dry conditions,” Dr. Mian tells Allure.
This is why the Eye Repair Cream is a tried-and-true favorite, as it relies on a time-release technology for all-day moisture around this vulnerable part of the skin.
However, this gentle formula does much more than keep your undereyes looking and feeling fresher — it also helps curb puffiness, dark circles, and fatigue, thanks to its use of brightening niacinamide.
Plus, it’s more hygienic than most eye creams as it comes in a tube, which also makes it easy to control how much product comes out.
Hydrating Sunscreen Body Lotion SPF 30
Like a scrunchie that won’t stay on, there’s nothing more aggravating than an SPF formula that slips and slides all over the place.
Thankfully, this is a non-issue with CeraVe’s Hydrating Sunscreen Body Lotion SPF 30, which contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, two physically protective ingredients that fight against damaging UV rays, says Dr. Mian.
If you have combination or oily skin, you’ll appreciate the fact that it’s oil-free and doesn’t leave behind any streaks while blending. Throw it in your beach bag for protected skin wherever you are.
Resurfacing Retinol Serum
If fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone are the bane of your existence, the Resurfacing Retinol Serum, an Allure Best of Beauty Award winner, is here to save the day.
As New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, previously said, this is a “great over-the-counter brightening serum.”
One of the key ingredients is niacinamide, a “powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich vitamin B3 derivative that has been scientifically shown to help with redness and discoloration in the skin,” according to Dr. Marchbein. If you have normal, dry, or combination skin, this will be a most welcomed addition to your routine.